Water closet construction



Sept. 30, 1941 w. E. sLoAN WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION Z Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 13, 1935 sept. 3o, 1941./ W E SLOAN 2,257,134

WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION Original Filed May 13, 1935 s sheets-sheet 2 w il?? mwa/07 1 kanji/ Q72/ Sept. 30, 1941 w. E. sLoAN `2,257,134

WATER CLOSET CONSTRUCTION Original Filed May 13, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ftorzekg/S Patented Sept. 30, 1941 WATER CLOSET CON'STRUCTIGN William E. `SloanRiver Forest, Ill.

Application May 13, 1935, Serial No. 21,097 Renewed April 25, 1938 13 Claims.

This invention relates to water closet constructions and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description.

In hotels, apartments and many other buildings where space is a factor and Ycost must be considered, the flush valves are not concealed however, seldom kept clean and on account of the location they are sprayed with urine, which will ruin even chrome plate, until finally all of these metal partsk make a very unsightly and objectionable appearance. This invention has -as a further object to provide a water closet and ush valve construction which shall be free from these objectionable features.

The invention has as a further object to provide av Water closet construction wherein there is a bowl and iiush valve, and a housing for protecting the iiush valve which-joins with the bowl.

The invention has as a further objectto provide a water closet construction comprising a bowl, a flush valve and a housing for the flush valve so arranged as to provide for both horizontal and vertical errors inthe location of the 4supply and Waste openings with relation to each other or the `oor or the partition wall.

The-invention has'as a further object to provide a water closet construction vhaving a bowl and the iiush valve and `means for protecting the ilush valve and associated parts.

' The invention has as a 'further object to provide a housing for the ilush valve and associated parts which can be easily removed for access to the parts by simply lifting the housing..

The invention has as a further object to vprovide a one piece housing for the flush valve and associated parts.

The invention has other objects which are more particularly pointed out in the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings, l

Fig. .1 is a view showingone for-m of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion or" Fig. l, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is-an enlarged sectional view with parts broken away;

` Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3; l

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view showing a Inodied construction;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'lf-"l of Fig- 6; v

Fig. 8 is a view showing a further modiiied construction;

Figs. 9 and 10 are front ,and side views of the bowl of Fig. 1 in position before the installation of the ush valve, showing the dimensions which are variable and which are taken care of bythe present construction; I

Figs. l1, 12 and 13 show different formsof the housingiastening device; and

Fig; 14 is afragmentary view showing the flush valvehandle construction. v Y

Like numerals refer to; likepar'ts throughout the several figures.

Referring now to the constructionshown in Figs. 1 to 5 wherein one form of the invention is illustrated, there, is shown a bowl l supported upon the floor 2. 'lhere is a waste pipe 3 into which the bowl discharges, and a supply .pipe di which supplies water to the bowl through a iiush valve. This supply pipe 4` projects through rthe wall 5 ,and connects in any suitable manner with a .flush valve 6, seeFigs. 3 and 4,. Any` suitable connection may be used. I 'prefer tov have an adjustable connection, suchv 'as shown' in Fig. 4, wherein there is a fitting 6a attached to the end ofthe pipe 4, which may be provided with a shutoff valve, and a pipe sectiony 'l connected with thefltting, vand an elbow 8 to whichl the pipe l 'section 'l is connected, said elbow being connected with the flush valve by a balland socket .joint in any suitable manner. v v

As herein shown, there is a ball member 9 on the end of the elbow 8 which fits Vinto, a suitable ball receiving socket in the inlet memberl!) of the ush valve, `and the connecting member H which connects the elbow with the ushyalve. `The flush valve .may ybe of any suitable type, and

I have shown a` `construction where the .main

valve i2 ofv the flushvalve is set into operation by tilting thestem i3 Aof the auxiliary valve, lthis stem'being tilted by the actuatingmember l 4 which is actuated by the handle l 5the movement of the handle in any direction rcausing the agitating member I4 to be moved to contact the auxiliary valve stem I3 so as to tilt it and cause the main valve to open and discharge water into the bowl. The handle is arranged so that it can operate the actuating member. lily bycontact-and does not require a positive connection.A

This is arranged by providing theI handle withv the enlarged part I5a and the actuating member I4 at its end with an enlarged portion I4a which is pressed outwardly by a spring I4b. The part I5a has an annulus I 5b which engages a projection I5c on the housing so as to hold the handle in position. When the housing and handle are Vin position, the part I5a on the inner end of the handle simply contacts with the part I4a and has 'no positive connection with it. Figs. 4 and 5 clearly show the construction.

The Water from the ush valve is discharged through the discharge pipe I6 into the bowl. I prefer to place in this discharge pipe a vacuum breaking device which is located in a chamber I'I in proximity to the flush valve. This chamber has a water inlet I8 and a water outlet I9 and an air inlet 20. Pivotally mounted in the chamber is a lever 2I, one end carrying a valve 22 adapted to control the air inlet, and the other end carrying the control member 23 opposed to the water inlet. This member 28,A is arranged so that when in its closed position it does not entirely close the water inlet, but will permit a leakage back through it of a small amount of air to destroy any vacuum-that may be produced in the supply pipe. The parts are arranged so that the end of the lever carrying the valve 22 is heavier than the other end, so that when no water is flowing the valve 22 will be open so that the air inlet 20 will be open, the

parts being in the position shown in Fig. 4.

When the iiush valve is operated, the water strikes the controlling member 23 and movesit to its open position and at the same time, moves the valve Y22 to its closed position so as to corn- .pletely close the air inlet. After the iiush has ceased the parts move back to the position shown in Fig. 4, where the air inlet is (open. This air prevents a vacuum from forming in the discharge pipe and when there is a vacuum in the water 1 supply pipe, air from the air inlet passes through the water inlet past the control member 23 in a direction opposite to that 0f the water, and this rair yenters the water supply pipe tor destroy any vacuum therein and to also act asr a cushion to the water when it again enters the supply pipe and prevents noise which would occur if th vacuum were not broken. I

This device, therefore, performs both functions of preventing backsyphonage and preventing objectionable noise when the water rushes back into the water supply pipe.

, A cover or housing 24 is provided for the flush valve and associated parts. This housing isfopen at the back and'atthe bottom, so thatrit can .be

located firmly against the wall and in order that it canibereadily removed to get at the flush valve .and associated parts.` This housing is made in a singlew piece and is attached to the wall so that it can be easily removed by simply lifting it upwardly. This housing may bemadeA ofany suitable material, preferably of metal enameled so that its exterior surface will exactly match thatof the closetl bowl in connectionwithwhicnitis used. 'I Ehishousing is preferably provided. with a plurality of rubberpcushions 25 which contact with the closet bowl. l It vis, also provided witha rubber bumper` 26 with which the elo-set seator covercontacts when in an open position. This housing `is provided with an opening 2'I through which the operating handlefor the flush 4valve projects. l n* The housing, which is preferably of a single Ypiece open at Vthe back and bottom, is held in its proper position over the ilush valve,v by suitable fastening devices connected with wall. In Figs.

11, 12 and 13 there is illustrated various holding VThe housing has an engaging member 33 which ts in between the members 38 and 3I. The housing also has engaging members 34 and 35 which engage the holding members 28 and 29.

It will be seen that to place the housing in position it is only necessary to place it over the flush valve and against the wall and then move rit down so that the engaging parts on the housing engage the holding parts on the wall. The hold.- ng parts on the Wall are fastened to the wall in such a position and at such a height as to compel the rhousing to rest on the closet bowl and maintain a position, centrally horizontal with relation to the closet bowl. on the wall and the engaging parts on the housing are so related asv to cause the back edge of the housing to be drawn tightly against the wall. The housing itself may be entirely supported by the holding device on the wall or may rest upon the top of the bowl, but it should be in such a position as not to leave any space between its edge and the bowl. It will further be seen that to remove the housing it is only necessary to lift it up. When so liftedLthe handle I5 and the part I5a go with the housing. The housing is gravitationally held in position.

In the building of buildings when the plumber does his roughing in, that is installs the vsupply and waste openings for the water closets, the condition of the building construction is such that it is difficult, if not impossible, for him to determine'exactly wherethe nish line of the iioor or the wall will be in the finished building, and as the position of the supply and wastel openings for the bowl made at the time the roughing in is done cannot be materially altered after the floors and walls are iinished, 'it is necessary that the connections to the bowl and associated parts allow for both horizontal and vertical errors in the location thereof. It is also necessary that the housing that'is to iit against the wall, and also lap over on the closet bowl, must be capable of compensating for errors in the distance the waste opening is located from the partition. In Figs. 9 and 10 there is illustrated the three variable distances which must be compensated for by this construction. These variable distances, which vary'with different installations, are the horizontal distance between the back of the bowl and the wall, as shown at A in Fig. 10, the vertical distance between the water supply pipe and the waterv inlet Ia for ,the bowl, indicated at B in Fig. 10, the water inlet la of the bowl being centrally located, and the third variable distance is the horizontal distance between the water supply pipe and the bowl inlet la, indicated at Cl in Fig. y9` These indicated distances show substantially themaximum variations found in actualk construction the connectionmade to the supply pipe 4, when it is considerably above Or'below The holding parts or to the rightor the left of its .correct position, still allows the flush valve toA be connected by means of Vthe unionk ball joint. For'variations in :heightit is only necessary to shorten or lengthen the pipe section 1 and vthe plumber can easily cut these sections of the desired length. The vertical flush connection also permits variation in `height between the ilush valve and the closet bowl by means of the slip joint connection provided on ythe flush eblow, that is by making the pipe Ib shorter or longer as required. The horizontal ush connection permits variation between the ush valve and the closet bowl by the slip joint connection provided in the spudor inlet la of the bowl, `that is by lengthening or shortening the pipe Ib. These adjustments are necessary to permit the flush valve Yto be placed in Asuitable or preferred positions with rrelation Ato :the housing 24. This'is due tothe fact that a flush valve must bein a fairly definite relation to -the'housing in .order that the handle will operate the flush valve, and the housing must rbe in a central position with relation to the bowl. The bowl I must always be located in a Xed position with relation to the opening of the waste pipe 3.

Bowls are usually provided with a projection 33,

care of by the housing. In order to arrange for this, the housing is provided with an overlapping lower end 4l where it rests on the bowl, and in order to obtain this overlap it is `necessary that the closet bowl project some distance back of the seat posts 42.

Ordinarily the top-of the bowl does not extend much beyond the-seat posts 42, and in that event there may not be a ,sufficient extension to com pensate for the various positions of the bowl. I may provide bowls with a sufficient extension 43, as shown for example in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, this extension being integral with and part of the bowl and' formed when the bowl is manufactured, thereby providing the bowl with a rearwardly extending part which extends rearwardly from the usual rear edge 43a, illustrated by the dotted line in Fig. 3. When the bowl does not have such an extension, I then provide a separate extension 44, see Fig. 6, which overlaps the back of the bowl and which is held in position by the v seat posts Y42, this extension projecting rear'- wardly a suficient amount to insure the proper overlap of the casing and the extension for all .the varying distances between the wall and the bowl. metal and arranged to have the same coloring as the bowl. Y

In Fig. 8 I have shownrwhat is called a wall bowl 45, the bowl being provided with an eXtension 46 which is fastened by fastening devices 41 to the wall 48. In this case the supply pipe 48 and the waste pipe 50 are located one above the other and their openings are at the face of the wall and the bowl discharge is connected with `the' openingof the waste pipe and the flush valve with the opening of the supply pipe.

It will rthus be seen that the housing can be cheaply made, as it is made of one piece, and that ,this single `piece housingextends from the wall -tofthefbowlso .as to conceall the flush valveand This extension 44 is preferably madeof pleasing appearance.

jiiush valve.

associated parts. It will further be seen that 'the vhousing has no attaching deviceswhichniust be removed in order to remove itfrom the flush valve, but lthat the housing can be easily and quickly removed by lifting it up, and `thatthe ilush valve handle goes with the housing when the housing is in position `and actuates the flush valve when out of position, either up or down or sidewise, and can be quickly and easily replaced by placing it in `position and then moving it downward. It will further be seen that this housing completely covers and protects the flush'valve and associated parts and yet can be easily and quickly removed to gain access to them for-.any reason. It will further be seen that the housing can be made to harmonize with the. bowl and that being of a single piece, it presents a It will further be seen .that since the housing ts up against the wall,` it'is stable and leaves no unsightly space between Iit and the wall. It will further be seen that-this vhousing may be properly placed in position centrally with relation to the bowl, concealing the lushvalve and connections when there are both horizontal and vertical variations in the relation between supply pipe, rflush valve and vthe closet bowl.

I have described in detail a particular'fconstruction embodying the invention, but it is of course evident that the parts may be` varied in many particulars, Aandparts omitted and others added, without departing from the spiritof `the invention, as embodied in the claims hereto ,appended, and I therefore do not limit myself to the particular construction shown.

`The use and operation of my inventionare as follows: l

After the building is iinished thebowl is placed with the projection 39 in the opening ofthe waste pipe 3 forming the usual gasket connection, and the holding member for the housing is fastened to the wall 5 so as to bring the housing inthe proper position with V,relation to the bowl. The flush valve anddischarge pipe i6 are connected with the ush valve, the ball joint permitting this lconnection for all the variations of the V'position ofthe supply pipe.` -The housing is then slipped down in position over the holding member 28 until it rests upon the toprof the bowl. The par-t Ma then comes opposite the handle l5 so lthat when the handle is actuated Vthe par-ts Mapa-nd M vwill be moved inwardly so that the part `I 4 will engage the stem lof the tilting valve to `operate the ilush valve. It will be seen that by having lthe enlarged parts `l fla and Ijawhich engage each other, the handle and the-actuating part |-4 may be considerably out of alignment in any-direction, and yet the handle when moved will-actuate the .actuating part i4. This compensates for any errors which may be made in centrally locating the This housing completely covers and protects the flush valve and 'associated parts and forms an extension of the bowl which covers these parts, the housing` and the bowl' forming a unitary construction in appearance and effect.

It will further be seen that I have here a construction which'` automatically adjusts itself and compensates for the lerrors of ythe plumberinfloeating the supply pipes and the waste pipes and which provides a means so that the assembly can be vmade rigid without throwing the'iinishedxtures vout of alignmentA for allthese various positions of theopenings. of the supply pipe andwaste lpipe. y f

y T1; A water closet bowl construction comprising a.v water closet bowl adjacent to a wall, a supply pipe adjacent to said wall, saidwater closet bowl being provided with supply and waste openings, a ush valve adjacent to said wall, connections between said flush valve and said supply pipe and water closet bowl, a one piece housing extending from the wall to the bowl and covering the flush valve and associated parts-and a holding device on the wall open at the top, bottom vand one side and an engaging member on the housing which projects into the open side of the Aholding member and which holds said housing -in position.

f 2; A water-closet bowl construction comprising a water closet bowl adjacent to a wall, a supply pipe adjacent to said wall, said water closet bowl being provided with supply and waste openings, va flush valve adjacent to said wall, adjustable connections between said iiush valve and said lsupply vpipe and water closet bowl, a one piece housing, open at the back, extending from the -wall to the bowl and covering the flush valve and associated parts, said housing being Yprovided with a handle opening in its side, and means for operating said flush valve through said handle opening.

3. A water closet bowl construction comprising `a water closet bowl adjacent to a wall and having a rearwardly extending part, a supply pipe adjacent to said wall, said water closet bowl being provided with supply and waste openings, the supply opening extending laterally into the bowl below the top thereof, a flush valve adjacent to said wall, connections between said ush valve Land said supply pipe and water closet-bowl, a

housing extending from the wall to the Vrearwardly extending part of the water closet bowl, 'a portion of said housing lapping over a portion of said rearwardly extending part of said bowl said housing covering the ush valve and associated parts and a connection from the flush valve to said supply opening projecting through the bottom of said housing and below the lower end thereof.V

4. rA water closet bowl construction comprising a water closet bowl adjacent to a wall, said water closet bowl having a rearwardly extending part,

formed with a substantially flat surface at the rear of the seat, a supply pipe adjacent to said wallgthe water closet bowl being Vprovided with supply and waste openings, a flush valve adjacent to said wall, connections between said flush valve and said supply pipe and water closet bowl,

f a housing, open at the back, extending from the wall to the rearwardly extending part of the bowl, a portion of said housing extending over the at surface of the rearwardly extending part of said bowl and covering the flush valve and associated parts, and a holding device on the wall comprising two separated holding members and two separated engaging members near the mid- *dle' of the housing projecting inwardly and engaging said holding device on the wall to hold the housing in position. l

5. A water closet bowl construction comprising a water closet bowl adjacent to a wall, said water closet bowl having a rearwardly extending part, added thereto, but integral therewith, a supply vpipe adjacent to said wall, said water closet bowl being provided with supply and waste openings,

ay flush valve adjacent to said wall, adjustable Aconnections between said flush valve and said supply pipe and water closet bowl, a housing extending from the wall toward the bowl, and having a portion which projects over a portion'of the rearwardly extending part of said bowl, means for gravitationally holding said housing in position to cover the flush valve and associated parts, and means for centrally mounting said housing with relation to said bowl, so as to cover said ush valve and associated parts for a series of dilerent positions of the waste pipe and supply pipe, with relation to each other and the wall.

6. A water closet bowl construction comprising a water closet bowl adjacent to a wall, a supply pipe adjacent to said wall, a waste pipe adjacent to said wall, said water closet bowl being provided with supply and waste openings, a flush valve adjacent to said wall, a housing extending from the wall to the bowl, and means for centhe housing and disconnected from the flush l valve, but adapted to operate the flush valve when the housing is placed in position.

8. A water closet bowl construction comprising a water closet bowl adjacent to a wall, a supply pipe adjacent to said wall, a flush valve connected with said supply pipe and with said bowl, a single piece housing extending from the wall to the bowl and covering said flush valve and associated parts, and means projecting through an opening in the side of the housing for operating the flush valve from the exterior of the housing when the flush valve is displaced vertically or horizontally from its central position in said housing. Y

9. A cover or housing for concealing the supply connections located betweena wall and the rear of a water closet, comprising a hollow upright structure having the back and bottom open to facilitate placement and removal, and having a base portion which extends forward from the front face of the structure a substantial distance to enable the front of the extended base to over- Y ing a base portion integral therewith, extending out in front of the said front face to enable the housing to extend from the wall and overlap the top of a water closet located further from the wall than the distance between the back of the housing' and the said front face thereof.

11. A water closet bowl having a ledge at the rear thereof with upright hinge-bolt openings through the ledge, said ledge extending back from the said openings, at the width which it has at the openings, for a distance greater than the usual variations in the distance 'between `the bolt openings of an installed bowl and the finished surface of va wall at Vthe rear of the bowl, whereby a supplyconnection cover of a given'size may extend from the finished Wall surface and overlap the ledge in uniform width in the various positions of the installed bowl relative to the wall, and a horizontal supply opening entering said bowl below said ledge, whereby the ledge is kept free to permit its being overlapped by said cover in the various distance relationships between the finished wall and the installed bowl.

l2. In combination, a water closet bowl having a ledge comprising a rear extension of the top surface of the bowl, a supply opening entering said bowl below said ledge, supply fittings for leading a water supply to the said supply opening, said ledge being free for a distance at the rear thereof .equal to or greater than the usual variations in the setting of closet bowls with respect to the surface of a nished Wall located to the rear thereof, and a cover for concealing the supply ttings, said cover being of such dimensions that it extends from the finished wall surface and overlaps the rear extremity of the top surface of said ledge when the bowl is 1ocated a maximum distance from the wall, whereby the cover overlaps successively larger portions of said ledge when the bowl is located at successively smaller distances from the wall.

13. In combination, a cover formed to conceal and protect a fiush valve, an actuating device for said flush valve, said cover having a hole therethrough of suflicient size to permit said actuating device to pass through the cover from the inside, and an enlarged portion on the inner end of said actuating device of suicient size to prevent said actuating device frorn slipping out through said h-ole.

WILLIAM E. SLOAN. 

